Zero Chance: Power of Love...Love of Power

by Research Analyst Jason Williams MD

When religion and family turn on you, what is left? This is the amazing story of a young man willing to do whatever is necessary to maintain a relationship with his children. After growing up in a polygamist family and life-style, Jason Williams is given zero chance for salvation from the leaders of the FLDS. His wife and children are kidnapped from him and he is instructed to have nothing to do with them. Instead of giving in, read the true story of how Jason took on the FLDS leaders and saved his children.

Genres: Nonfiction, Polygamy, Biography

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2009

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being raised in Short Creek, I may be a little biased when I say I loved the book. It brought back so many memories, bad and good. It is definitely written from a Williams perspective, which is both cocky and funny. ;) There are a couple bad references that the editor should have caught. Some of the sentences have spelling and grammar errors. As for the legitimacy of the content, I believed all of it. Many of the events described, I remember when they happened and the whole town was going crazy about them. I remember a meeting with Rulon and Warren Jeffs. They are just as weird and uncomfortable as Jason describes. As for the Sam Barlow mentioned, he was my grandfather. The last time I saw him, I was probably 5 or 6 years old. The last time I spoke to him, I was 14 and trying to get some information for a family tree project about John Y. Barlow. He was not very helpful because he kept going on and on about priesthood gibberish that I did not understand. He wrote off my three siblings and I, as well as my mother, his own daughter. I know some of Jason's family and they are passionate people but I do believe he was able to withstand all that injustice while controlling his temper, a feat many men CANNOT do. If you are not from the area, you might feel lost reading it but if you from the area or know someone close that is from the area, I would definitely recommend it.

[MaryAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and tragic with a great outcome.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason was one of my son's football coaches. His son and mine are friends; yet I knew next to nothing about his story of escape until a review of his book was printed in the local newspaper. Jason was happy to sell me a copy of "Zero Chance" and once I opened the cover, I couldn't put it down.

"Sitting in my car outside the Post Office, I stared down at the letter my wife had mailed to me after she kidnapped my two little boys."
(From Chapter 1 of "Zero Chance)

Jason is not an experienced writer, but I love his his complete candor and his unexpected humor and irreverence. The entire book reads pretty much like a long conversation.

I have enormous respect for Jason. His struggle to maintain a relationship with his sons despite having family, religion, and finances all against him is inspiring. I am so glad he chose to publish a man's point of view who has endured living under Warren Jeff's rule. If you want honest insight into life in a polygamous society, this is the book you should read.

[Janel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! An inside look at polygamy and Warren Jeffs. This is a true story about a man named Jason Williams who has his family taken away from him by Warren Jeffs and his father Rulon Jeffs. He is told that he has zero chance of salvation. He hires an attorney and takes on the FLDS in a fight to gain custody of his children and save them from polygamy. I thought is was an interesting read and had a hard time putting it down.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows how being true to yourself can change everything. Jason writes in such an easygoing mannner, I was hooked from the first sentance. More later...

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent memoir from the man's perspective in the polygamous community. Very eye-opening and I think important for everyone to read. Great work by Jason Williams.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but not well written.